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Topic Review (Newest First)

06-14-2014 03:04 AM

middleofnowhere

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaRen616

You mentioned that they are both girls, that is not a good idea.

They might get along now because they are both puppies but once they mature, you could be looking at some serious issues. Female/female aggression is terrible, if they fight once, then they will always fight.

Oh Phoey! I'm on my third combination of dual bitches. It does work quite well in my case.

I've not done pups that close in age. I'd forget trying to walk them together for quite a while. I think I'd be in a mess trying to walk my 9 mo with my 4+ yo right now. Maybe later. Not just yet.

06-13-2014 05:39 PM

sit,stay

There are two types of leash walking for my dogs. The first is focused heeling, where they are in position at my left knee and they don't leave that position. If I slow down, they slow down. If I speed up, they speed up. If I stop, they sit and wait for me to move again. I use the command "heel" for this behavior.

The second type of leash walking is recreational. They can sniff as we walk. They can move a little ahead or a little behind. I use the command "let's go" for this behavior.

In both instances, the leash should never get tight. There should always be slack in the leash.

If your puppies haven't been specifically taught how to behave on leash separately, they sure won't know how to behave when you have them together. So I do think you are expecting too much from them, given that you haven't trained them to do what you want. They are doing what comes naturally, based on developmental stage and personality.

I personally start working on leash walking as soon as I get them home as puppies. Focused heeling from an 8 week old or a 12 week old is short and sweet. Literally just a few steps and then tons of praise and a food reward a toy reward. Simple loose leash walking for recreation? They should be doing that, too, and for longer/farther stretches.

Train them separately and then when they are rock solid with distractions on their own, combine them and work on that. If you don't want a dog that plays with the other dog on walks, and blows you off hen you disrupt the play, teach each puppy to focus on you while on leash.

There is a reason why it is so time consuming to raise two puppies at the same time!
Sheilah

06-12-2014 02:11 PM

My2shepherds

Quote:

Originally Posted by sit,stay

Leash walking where they are focused on you and not every interesting leaf and companion puppy to play with is a skill that needs to be trained for. At this point the puppies don't know how to do this when they are with you separately and they sure aren't going to know how to do it with eth distraction of the other puppy along.

Train this skill separately, just as you are training your other "commands" separately. Only after they both have the skill solid on their own should you try to walk them together.
Sheilah

So am I trying too soon? At what age would you recommend leash training to be incorporated?

06-12-2014 02:05 PM

My2shepherds

LOL ...Oh I am sure it would be a Youtube hit!!! Seriously though there are times they are perfect (usually toward the end when exhaustion is setting in for the younger one). There are of course those times I cannot even take more than three steps without tripping over someone or them tripping over me..

06-12-2014 01:59 PM

boomer11

I would appreciate if it you could take a video of you trying to walk two pups for our entertainment

06-12-2014 01:58 PM

My2shepherds

I am hoping with enough socialization and training that it will not be an issue. I know Eden's breeder had 3 females together and never experienced any aggression from any other them. All I can do is work with them and instantly curb any behaviors I do not want...

06-12-2014 01:57 PM

sit,stay

Leash walking where they are focused on you and not every interesting leaf and companion puppy to play with is a skill that needs to be trained for. At this point the puppies don't know how to do this when they are with you separately and they sure aren't going to know how to do it with eth distraction of the other puppy along.

Train this skill separately, just as you are training your other "commands" separately. Only after they both have the skill solid on their own should you try to walk them together.
Sheilah

06-12-2014 01:52 PM

LaRen616

You mentioned that they are both girls, that is not a good idea.

They might get along now because they are both puppies but once they mature, you could be looking at some serious issues. Female/female aggression is terrible, if they fight once, then they will always fight.

06-12-2014 01:49 PM

My2shepherds

Actually they are...

06-12-2014 01:43 PM

Courtney

Good info in this thread.

Having two pups is a challenge. I think it's important to treat them as individuals and rethink and revise training along the way. The time you spend with them separately is crucial. Plenty of dogs close in age get along with training - you can do it.

What's the sex of the pups? Hopefully not two females

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